Locals travelled on a self-driving bus in China.

Footage shows the autonomous vehicle cruising smoothly along a street before reaching a stop in Huizhou City on May 19.

A passenger boarded the cab, which was limited to six passengers only and required reservations to take it.

During the first few months of its launch, the route runs from Hengli Metro Station Bus Terminal to Lingshan Island Ring Line.

Every ride is free but commuters have to be at least 18-years-old before they can avail a journey.

Self-driving vehicles are the next big battleground in the tech war.

In the United States, Tesla boss Elon Musk has continually talked up their prospects but has so far failed to deliver meaningful progress.

However, Waymo owned by Google, is currently operating self-driving taxis in a number of states.

The advance of autonomous buses, cars and taxis also threatens the long-term growth of ride-hailing apps such as Uber, Lyft and Grab.